Getting Pregnant at 40

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Pregnancy at 40 Years of Age

It is said that 30 is the new 20, and 40 is the new 30. With today’s healthcare innovations the same theory may be applied to pregnancy for women. Here are some of the common expectations, cautions, and advantages that come with pregnancies over 40. Rather you conceived naturally or with the help of modern medicine, waiting until your older to have a baby definitely holds many benefits. The saying, older and wiser, really holds its truth when it comes to starting a family. More than likely by the time you reach middle age you are stable in a career and financially secure. If you have a partner then it’s possible you have a long term relationship and have built a strong foundation, perfect for a baby.

Studies have shown that your health choices for yourself and your future child are better, more informed, and cautious because you are better educated, and even more focused on your baby. The actual pregnancy has a different standard of living once you hit 40. Being well as possible is vital to a healthy pregnancy. Stay fit! Appropriate exercise during any pregnancy lowers health risks for mom and baby and can even lower pains associated with being pregnant. A well balanced diet will ensure you are getting all of your nutritional needs met. Starting prenatal vitamins even prior to pregnancy is known to reduce chances of miscarriage and certain birth defects.

There are genetic tests that are regularly suggested for women after the age of 35 such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling- a test made in early pregnancy to detect congenital abnormalities in the fetus. A tiny tissue sample is taken from the villi of the chorine, which forms the fetal part of the placenta. Some of the common risks involved in later in life pregnancies can be gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, miscarriage, and preterm delivery. You may even encounter problems with placenta previa- a condition in which the placenta partially or wholly blocks the neck of the uterus, thus interfering with normal delivery of a baby, or placental insufficiency- a complication of pregnancy when the placenta is unable to deliver an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, and thus, cannot fully support the developing baby.

Studies have also shown that stillbirth has a higher probability after the age of 35. It has been proven that the types of deliver that older women experience usually involve intervention. Commonly a cesarian section or induced labor occurs. To say that a healthy pregnancy or easy labor and delivery can not occur at 40 years old would be an unfair statement. Not only is it possible but it is an ordinary occurrence, you just have to be informed and prepared when you make the decision to start the journey.